Method for identifying reusable multiplexing resources and telecommunications system

• US 9,462,595 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2012
• Issued: 10/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
• Original Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
• Inventors: Tronc, Jerome, Deslandes, Vincent
• Primary Examiner(s): Yao, Kwang B
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jeong, Moo Ryong
• Application Number:
  US14/351,135
• Publication Number:
  US 20140321358A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,453 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18513 Transmission in a satellite or space-based system
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18565 Arrangements for preventing unauthorised access or for providing user protection arrangements for secret or secure communication H04L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18591 Arrangements for interconnecting multiple systems data switching networks H04L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/04 Wireless resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/541 using the level of interference

Abstract

A method and telecommunications system for identifying uplink multiplexing resources of a multi-beam satellite that are usable in a land-based telecommunications system, e.g., a transmitting station for transmitting radio signals to a receiving station. The transmitting station or the receiving station being a base station having a range defining a coverage area. For a given uplink multiplexing resource, a maximum allowable interference level, with respect to the satellite, for radio-electric signals transmitted from the coverage area is estimated. A potential interference level of the transmitting station is estimated. The transmitting station determines the usability of the given uplink multiplexing resource by comparing the potential interference level with the maximum allowed interference level for the given uplink multiplexing resource.

Claims

1. A method for identifying uplink multiplexing resources of a multi-beam satellite that can be used in a terrestrial telecommunications system by a transmitting station to transmit radio-electric signals to a receiving station, comprising the steps of:

estimating a maximum interference level authorized with respect to the satellite for an uplink multiplexing resource for radio-electric signals transmitted from a zone of coverage, wherein the transmitting station or the receiving station is a base station having a range delimiting the zone of coverage in which the transmitting station is situated, and wherein different beams of satellite use different uplink multiplexing resources;

estimating a radiation power of the radio-electric signals transmitted by the transmitting station;

measuring, by the transmitting station, a real reception level of the radio-electric signals transmitted by the satellite;

determining a potential level of interference of the transmitting station as a function of the real reception level measured and of the estimated radiation power of the transmitting station; and

determining whether said uplink multiplexing resource is usable by the transmitting station by comparing the potential level of interference of the transmitting station with the maximum interference level authorized for said uplink multiplexing resource.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of estimating the maximum interference level, comprises the steps of:

measuring a reference reception level of radio-electric signals transmitted by the satellite in a beam using each uplink multiplexing resource considered by a terrestrial reference device situated in the zone of coverage under predetermined conditions of visibility with the satellite; and

determining the maximum interference level authorized for said each uplink multiplexing resource considered as a function of the reference reception level measured for said each uplink multiplexing resource considered.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, for said each uplink multiplexing resource considered, further comprising the step of transmitting, by the satellite, a specific pilot signal S_x associated with said each uplink multiplexing resource considered in the beam using said each uplink multiplexing resource considered, the reference reception level for said each uplink multiplexing resource considered corresponds to the reception level of the pilot signal S_x associated with said each uplink multiplexing resource considered.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, for said each uplink multiplexing resource considered, further comprising steps of:

measuring the real interference level generated by transmitting stations using said each uplink multiplexing resource considered; and

updating of a transmission power of the pilot signal S_x associated with said each uplink multiplexing resource considered by adjusting the transmission power of the pilot signal S_x as a function of the real interference level measured for said each uplink multiplexing resource considered.

5. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the terrestrial reference device is the base station.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of transmitting a specific pilot signal S′

_x associated with each beam of the satellite, the real reception level of the transmitting station corresponds to a maximum reception level measured by the transmitting station for all pilot signals.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of transmitting one and same global pilot signal S′

₀ in multiple beams of the satellite or in a global beam encompassing multiple beams of said satellite, the real reception level of the transmitting station corresponds to a reception level of the global pilot signal S′

₀.

8. A terrestrial telecommunications system, comprising

a transmitting station and a receiving station configured to exchange data by using uplink multiplexing resources of a multi-beam satellite, the transmitting station or the receiving station being a base station having a range delimiting the zone of coverage in which the transmitting station is situated;

and

a reference base station configured to;

estimate a maximum interference level authorized with respect to the satellite for radio-electric signals transmitted from a zone of coverage for each uplink multiplexing resource considered;

estimate a radiation power of the radio-electric signals transmitted by the transmitting station;

measure a real reception level by the transmitting station of the radio-electric signals transmitted by the satellite;

determine a potential level of interference of the transmitting station as a function of the measured real reception level and of the estimated radiation power; and

determine whether an uplink multiplexing resource is usable by the transmitting station by comparing the potential level of interference of the transmitting station with the maximum interference level authorized for said uplink multiplexing resource.

9. The system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the reference base station is a terrestrial reference station situated or placed in the zone of coverage under predetermined conditions of visibility with the satellite;

and wherein the reference base station is configured to measure reception levels of the radio-electric signals transmitted in downlink multiplexing resources of the satellite.

10. The system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the reference base station is the base station.

11. An integrated telecommunications system comprising a space component comprising a multi-beam satellite and a terrestrial component that complies with a terrestrial telecommunications system as claimed in claim 8.

12. The system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the satellite transmits a specific pilot signal in each beam of the satellite.

13. The system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the satellite updates a transmission power of each pilot signal as a function of measurements of a level of aggregated interference of transmitting stations using uplink multiplexing resources defined as a real interference level, wherein the satellite updates the transmission power of the pilot signal associated with an uplink multiplexing resource as a function of the real interference level measured in said uplink multiplexing resource.

14. The system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the satellite transmits one and same global pilot signal in multiple beams of the satellite or in a global beam encompassing multiple beams of the satellite.